My first three children are boys. Listen.

I’m no stranger to dirt. Or sticks arranged in a heap on my kitchen table. Or rocks mysteriously tucked away until they experience the freedom victory lap in my dryer. Heh. I even made the mistake once of throwing away a leaf that was on a boy’s dresser, unaware that it was that day’s precious find. Glory.

boys

In the early days, I saw this endless collection of nature as irrelevant, misplaced, and disposable. But not my boys. They could see what I couldn’t…

A beautiful masterpiece in spite of imperfection.

A creation worthy of being reclaimed instead of flippantly discarded.

A treasure kept, protected, and designed for great purpose.

My favorite was when they would dig holes for me to plant flowers in Springtime. Without fail, they’d come across a rock that had been buried down deep. But because they chose to see beyond the filthy mess? Instead of tossing the rock off to the side, they’d run to the nearest water spigot and wash it clean, exposing a beauty previously unknown.

_______________________________

Becoming living stones in a dying world…

As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him…

Christians in the Roman empire were being persecuted beyond belief, living in a society that was ignorant about the one true God.

But say-it-like-it-is Peter has a message for God’s people:

The world is dying. You were once scarred by sin, and even now rejected by men. But because of Jesus, you’re alive. Oh Christian, rise up and live like you’re ALIVE.

Were they tempted to wonder if all of the suffering was really worth it? Had they forgotten the curse of death from which they had already been rescued? Were they distracted just long enough to take their eyes off of their capable Rescuer? Or maybe they were so afraid that they buried their faith down deep in an act of self preservation…

Sometimes it’s really hard to live ALIVE.

I don’t know… maybe you can identify?

You’ve suffered for so long that you wonder if God is really there.

You’ve given into apathy, you’ve disregarded grace, and you’ve grown cold to your own sin.

You’ve pursued the things of this world instead of running hard after your Savior.

You’ve buried your faith down deep because you feel afraid, broken, unworthy, ashamed, forgotten, or  __________.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light…

Fiery Peter speaks Truth as the war rages on around them:

Remember the cross. Your foundation is secure. The world may be dying, but Jesus has made you alive. Become like living stones – no longer dead and buried – but alive and built up…

Do you feel buried by the weight of the world? Then let today be the day that you find yourself at the foot of the cross, looking up, washed clean, remembering Whose you are:

 A beautiful masterpiece in spite of imperfection.

A creation worthy of being reclaimed instead of flippantly discarded.

A treasure kept, protected, and designed for great purpose.

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…

Father, take us back to our firm Cornerstone and help us to live…

Alive.

At His feet,

*LET’S TALK: Are you living buried, or alive? What do you need to bring to the surface and surrender to Jesus today to let him wash clean so that you can live fully ALIVE? If you feel brave, comment and share that thing as a statement of surrender. If you feel brave but are unable to be specific, simply type, “I surrender, Jesus. Help me to live ALIVE.” so that our team can pray for you too. How I love the encouragement and acceptance that goes on in this place…

{Week 2} Video:

 {If you’re unable to see this video, you can view it here.}

{Week 2} Challenge: Find a small rock in nature, clean it, and carry it in your pocket every day this week. Let the presence of the rock be a reminder for you to embrace your role as a living stone in a dying world. Then go and live ALIVE.

Weekly-Challenge-2

{Week 2} Reading Plan:

Week2

{Week 2} Memory Verse:

Peter MVWK2

WhitneyD

WhitneyD

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